Hornet stings have forced Bestwood Village parkrun to cancel its Saturday 12 September event, with organisers warning that a return could be several weeks away.
A nest has been found in an old tree beside the first hill on the Bestwood Country Park route after runners were stung during events over the previous two weeks.
Some participants were reportedly stung several times. A comment on the event’s social media page said one runner attended King’s Mill Hospital after multiple stings, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Nottinghamshire County Council has cordoned off the area around the nest and installed warning signs. Park rangers have advised people to stay away and avoid running through that section while the colony remains active.
The parkrun team said a local wildlife group had helped identify the nest as belonging to native hornets. Organisers said vibration and carbon dioxide from passing runners could explain the insects’ response.
There is no confirmed date for the event to resume, and further cancellations remain possible while the team considers its options and awaits confirmation that runners can safely return.
“We don’t have a firm timeline yet and it could be a few weeks,” organisers said. “The core team are continuing to look at our options and we’ll update you as soon as we know more.”
Regular participant Johnny Leaper, 55, said he was stung on 29 August and described it as “very painful”. He said the cancellation was unsurprising given the concerns.
Other comments on the event’s posts described several people being affected, including a woman who was stung repeatedly and a child. These remain accounts from members of the public rather than officially confirmed details.
Organisers have asked people to avoid the taped-off area and check for updates before travelling to Bestwood for future events. They suggested runners visit another parkrun or volunteer elsewhere during the closure.
